Drinkers were locked in the Dockle Farmhouse while tight-lipped police officers cordoned off quiet West End Road.

The cordons were lifted after 10pm.

A spokesman for Wiltshire Police last night confirmed a local man had been arrested.

Wiltshire Police said: “We were called to a disorder in the Lower Stratton area of Swindon at around 7.30pm.

“Due to the nature of the incident armed officers attended and on arrival found a man pointing and then shooting a weapon at police from a building. Officers quickly contained the situation and no-one was injured.

“As a precaution, officers did require some members of the public to stay indoors or at local pubs while they dealt with the incident and we would like to thank them for their patience and understanding.

“A 31-year-old local man was arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm, criminal damage and common assault.

“He has been taken to Gablecross police station and is currently in custody.”

Read more: Wiltshire Police full statement

The incident took place on Darling Close, behind the New Inn’s car park.

One teen, who witnessed it unfold, said he had heard up to five gunshots at around 8pm while he was on the phone to his girlfriend, saying he thought someone was letting off fireworks.

It was only when he heard screams of “armed police” that he knew different. The gunman was said to have traded shots with officers, pleading with them: “Just shoot me, just shoot me”.

The youngster added: “After all this he finally came out with his hands in the air.”

He said: “It was scary. Darling Close is just a little dead-end road. Nothing like that really happens.”

Read more: Stratton armed stand-off as it happened

Brandon Wise, 19, was in the New Inn, when armed officers raided a house: “I saw them duck down behind the car. You could hear them shout: ‘armed police, armed police’. There’s shots going off.”

A friend, 23, when asked what he made of the heavy police presence, said: “It doesn’t bother me.”

Gary Bell’s car had been stuck in the car park behind the New Inn for a couple of hours: “I have lived in Stratton all my life and nothing like this has happened.”